Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's action.
13:10 Lingfield
This looks a competitive 0-75 handicap but preference goes to the Jamie Osbourne trained FREE SOLO (best priced at 13/8) who aims to complete a hat-trick of course wins. The six-year-old previously had a poor strike rate but benefitted from a career low mark of 66 to win on his penultimate start by 1 ¼ lengths over 7f here.
Free Solo defied a 6lb rise from the handicapper to win over a mile here last time staying on strongly at the finish. He runs here under a 5lb penalty but is clearly thriving at present and he looks worth keeping on side until he is beaten.
14:55 Lingfield
The George Boughey trained VISION OF HOPE (best priced at 7/4) has won both of her starts in handicaps since upped in trip to 1m4f and she looks to hold strong claims of completing the hat-trick. The four-year-old won at Southwell off an opening mark of 57 before following up off a 3lb higher mark on her next start over this course and distance.
The victory was more comfortable than the winning margin of a head suggested and another 3lb rise from the handicapper could underestimate her. She appears to have relished the step up trip and fitting of a tongue tie/hood combination and I expect her to complete a hat-trick of wins.
15:43 Newcastle
The Micky Hammond trained KNOCKAMONA (best priced at 13/2) won this race easily last season as an unfancied 25/1 shot and is now back down to the same mark for the race again today. The twelve-year-old had previously won a handicap chase off a mark of 103 but his most recent successes have both come off marks of 85. He won this race comfortably by seven lengths last season despite pulling up on his previous start and he appears to have been targeted at this race based on his prep runs this season.
Connections have run Knockamona in two handicaps under an inexperienced 10lb claimer where he has been beaten 31 lengths and 23 lengths but that has meant he has dropped 5lbs in the ratings down to a mark of 85. Conor O’Farrell looks a good booking for the yard and he looks worth taking a chance on win only.
